Two naxalites, CRPF jawan killed in encounter in Orissa

Malkangiri, Apr 29 (UNI) Two Naxalites and a CRPF Jawan were killed and five others, including a tribal youth were injured in a fierce encounter near a weekly market close to MV79 village in Orissa today.

Police said the Naxalites threw hand grenade at a patrolling party when it approached at MV 79 village in Malkangiri during an intensive combing operation.

The CRPF jawans and the Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP), jointly conducting the combing operation, instantly retaliated, killing two of the attackers.

One CRPF jawan was also killed in the encounter.

At least four CRPF jawans and one tribal youth were injured in the clash. They were taken to a hospital at Visakhapatanam.

Police said immediately after the incident the force launched an intensive combing operation in the area and nabbed a Naxalite from the forest, who was involved in snatching one SLR and another AK47 rifle from the force.

The police, meanwhile, sounded red alert in the district following the encounter which lasted more than an hour.

Additional police force had been mobilised to join the combing operation to flush out the Naxalites from the area.

UNI